March 1, 2000
Texas ministers' wives invited to make a tea time
___By George Henson
___Staff Writer
___CEDAR HILL--Many ministers find an occasional tee time cures the stresses of ministry.
___Likewise, a tea time for ministers' wives also relieves some of the stresses of their job, according to Danita Saylors, president of the Texas Baptist Ministers' Wives' Fellowship.
___A tea will be the activity that launches "A Teatime Blessing," a retreat for the wives of Texas Baptist ministers April 14-15 at Mount Lebanon Baptist Encampment near Dallas.
___Saylors, wife of Smith Baptist Association Director of Missions Paul Saylors, said thegathering of ministers' wives is important because of the unique relationship the participants share.
READY TO SERVE Texas Baptist ministers' wives at the annual retreat at Mount Lebanon Encampment are Nancy Duck of Lufkin, Danita Saylors of Tyler and Beverly Brown of McKinney. (Photo by George Henson)
___"When you go to a ladies' retreat at your church--well, no one knows what it's like to be a ministers' wife like another ministers' wife does. You can't really talk to other ladies in the church about the stresses you feel, or about how someone is treating your husband," she said.
___While the weekend event is billed as "a time of spiritual renewal through study, music and inspiration," it also is a fun time, said Beverly Brown, second vice president of the fellowship. Each participant will be presented with a special gift for attending, and door prizes will be given.
___"We just want to let them know how special they are," said Brown, whose husband, Don, is director of missions for Collin Baptist Association.
___Churches could show the wives of their ministerial staff that the church thinks these women are special by not only encouraging them to attend the retreat but also making the $50 registration fee a gift. A scholarship fund also has been established to help more women attend.
___Fellowship First Vice President Nancy Duck emphasized the uniqueness of the opportunity.
___"We've all been to a lot of retreats, but we can share things here we can't share other places. It's something I look forward to every year," said Duck, whose husband, Nolan, is pastor of First Baptist Church in Lufkin.
___The event always has given her new vigor as a minister's wife, she said. "Every time I have left this retreat, I have thought, 'I am grateful to God to be a minister's wife.'"
___The simple fact that ministers' wives don't always have that attitude of their life as the spouse of a minister is the precise reason for the retreat, Brown added. "There are times when bad things happen in your life. This is a time to be reminded of the blessing of being a minister's wife."
___Millie Cooper, wife of Kenneth Cooper, founder of the Cooper Aerobics Center in Dallas, will be the keynote speaker this year. Worship will be led by Diane Machen.
___Elaine Mangefeste will lead two breakout sessions in Spanish.
___Registration, due by April 1, is available by calling Debbie Thomas at (214) 887-5436. For scholarship information, call (888) 968-6389.
___
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